Minorities and other historically marginalized groups are significantly underrepresented in clinical research, exacerbating health disparities and limiting access to advanced medical treatments. Sarah Louden, the founder and CEO of Total Health, highlights the stark contrast between the demographic composition of the United States and the participants in clinical trials. While nearly 39% of the U.S. population consists of people of color, they only represent 2% to 16% of clinical trial participants.
This gap in representation has serious implications, as noted by the National Academics of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, which states that such disparities compound health inequities with severe consequences for the affected groups and the nation as a whole. The Harvard Business Review corroborates these findings, pointing out the overwhelming enrollment of white, male patients in clinical studies, with women, the elderly, and people of color regularly left out.
The lack of diversity in clinical trials not only limits the generalizability of research findings but also hinders the exploration of variations in drug and treatment efficacy across different populations. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort to change clinical trial guidelines and processes to ensure diversity is a standard part of research.
Louden calls for the industry to tackle key barriers to participation, such as geographic access, limited awareness of research opportunities, and a lack of trust within marginalized communities. By enhancing efforts to engage and understand these populations, research companies and organizations can work towards a more equitable healthcare landscape where clinical advancements benefit all segments of society.
See “Underrepresentation In Clinical Research And Its Impact On Health Outcomes” by Sarah Louden on the Forbes website (February 1, 2024)
